Recent Federal Focus on Higher Education Data

Data and transparency have been a key focus of policymakers in recent weeks as there have been several efforts around these topics and the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA). 

First, bi-partisan groups of Members of Congress in the House and Senate introduced the College Transparency Act of 2017. In the Senate, S. 1121 was introduced on May 15 by Sens. Hatch (R-UT), Warren (D-MA), Cassidy (R-LA), and Whitehouse (D-RI). In the House, companion legislation, H.R. 2434, was introduced on May 16 by Representatives Mitchell (R-MI), Polis (D-CO), Garrett (R-VA), Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Stivers (R-OH), Panetta (D-CA), and Dunn (R-FL), which additional co-sponsors since that time. The bill would establish a new postsecondary student data system at the National Center for Education Statistics, and overturn the ban on a federal student record data system. According to the bill’s Fact Sheet, the bill would increase data access by:

• Ensuring accurate and complete reporting on student outcomes including enrollment, retention, completion, and post-collegiate outcomes across colleges and majors
• Taking appropriate steps to ensure student privacy is protected, and data remains secure
• Strengthening transparency, institutional improvement, and analysis of Federal student aid programs
• Providing actionable and customizable information for students and families making important decisions about higher education
• Modernizing the reporting system and ultimately reducing the reporting burden on institutions of higher education

ACTE signed onto a letter in support of the bill as it reflects many of our priorities around data we hope to see included in HEA reauthorization.

The following week, the House Education and the Workforce Committee held a hearing on data collection and reporting in higher education, with many tenets of this legislation discussed. Key themes of the hearing included ensuring students and families have access to more complete and accurate information to make decisions on postsecondary education, ensuring accountability for taxpayer dollars, and how to keep data private and secure. Transparency around student outcomes, including education and employment outcomes across programs, was also highlighted during the hearing, and as has been the case in many Hill events lately, members and witnesses alike mentioned the value of CTE. Unfortunately, there was not universal support for a federal data system, with the privacy and security concerns still outweighing the benefits in the opinion of some Members of Congress (and at least one witness).

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